lunch + learn
Union + Co's Lunch + Learns are free, monthly events open to members of our coworking, private office, and artist studio space, and to the general public. The events are about 50 minutes long and cover a range of topics focused on the personal and professional enrichment of our community. Please RSVP in advance.
Estate Planning 101 with David Levesque, Founder and Principal at Levesque Law
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Do you keep putting off "getting your affairs in order" because you don't know where to begin? Have an old will that might need to be updated, or questions about the how, when, and where of estate planning? David Levesque of Levesque Law will outline the basics of Estate Planning during this Lunch + Learn, and will explain the ins and outs of this very important process.
David started his practice with a vision to serve individuals and businesses throughout Maine and with a particular concentration on the Midcoast, with high quality, valuable advice and integrity. He has a wealth of knowledge and experience about what it means to be a lawyer serving Mainers.
All are welcomed to attend! Our neighbors, Solo Pane e Pasticceria are generously providing LUNCH. Limited supply available, so come on time!
The Cyber Security Stack with Ronald Valade, Owner and CEO, I/O Tech Services
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Is your approach to cyber security putting a passcode on your computer?
Do you stick fingers in your ears whenever someone brings up cyber attacks?
What even is a Cyber Security Stack?
Ronald Valade, Owner and CEO of I/O Tech Services will guide us through a user-friendly process to understand and navigate the Cyber Security Stack, and the tools that are available to keep your information and your business safe.
All are welcomed to attend! Our neighbors, Solo Pane e Pasticceria are generously providing LUNCH. Limited supply available, so come on time!
Business Risk Management with Scott Price, CIC, CISR - J Edward Knight
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More Than Insurance is a four step process utilized by J Edward Knight to identify, understand, implement and monitor the risk management strategies for you and your business. Scott Price Certified Insurance Counselor will help you identify the risks that face your business and help create strategies to minimize risk and reduce financial burdens.
Scott has been with J Edward Knight for the last 15 years. He concentrates primarily on writing commercial insurance. He holds both the Certified Insurance Counselors (CIC) and Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designations.
GMRI Blue Economy Summer Series: Climate Change and the Working Waterfront
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Co-hosted with Gulf of Maine Research Institute, a discussion of resilience featuring GMRI's Climate Center and Nick Planson, CEO of Shred Electric.
Throughout the Gulf of Maine, climate change is evident: waters are warming and acidifying at rapid rates, sea levels are rising and exacerbating coastal flood risk, and species are moving to find more hospitable environments. With this context, it’s imperative we ask: how can we develop technologies and innovations to build resilience in our coastal communities and marine-dependent industries?
As part of GMRI’s Blue Economy Summer Series, learn how advancements in coastal resilience and infrastructure electrification are making inroads in Maine and its impacts for the climate, business operations, and coastal communities.
Blaine Grimes and Gulf of Maine Ventures team work with companies that are finding innovative solutions that are addressing GMRI's Global Ocean Challenges, including healthy ocean ecosystems, climate change, and seafood sustainability. Blaine will be joined by Dave Reidmiller and Jared Wildwistle from GMRI's Climate Center and founder of Shred Electric, Nick Planson, who is on a mission to decarbonize our working waterfront. Together, they will talk about the opportunity for blue economy growth here in the Gulf of Maine and what we can learn from trends in this expanding sector.
This lecture series is part of the Gulf of Maine Ventures strategic initiative, which harnesses the scientific, technical, and solution-oriented expertise of GMRI and partners to advance innovation in the blue economy.
Small Business Marketing with Laura Robison, founder of GainKite.com
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This marketing presentation covered the basics of an effective Email Marketing Strategy and the importance of automation where possible (specifically for small businesses who are doing it all themselves).
Download the Presentation Slides. Watch the Recording on Instagram.
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Abigail Baker + Georgie Bunker, Founders of the Credit Pathways Program at Morse High School
Tim Wylie, Associate Director of Midcoast Youth Center and Skate Park
Katie Mathews, Grades 5/6 Teacher at Brightfield School
Dr. John Byram, Co-Founder of Bath At Play
Join Union + Co for an engaging conversation with Bath-area organizations focused on YOUTH. From pure play, to education and life experiences, learn from our panelists on the strengths, weaknesses, challenges & opportunities facing Bath's youth. Hear from the folks on the ground who are working with our community's more important resource: Kids.
All are welcomed to attend! Our neighbors, Solo Pane e Pasticceria are generously providing LUNCH. Limited supply available, so come on time!
Union + Co's Lunch + Learns are open dialogues focused on professional & community development topics. We look forward to opening thoughtful and respectful conversations in our space.
Youth Focus
Investing for Small Business Owners with Anastasia LaMarca, Regional VP of Primerica
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Managing your financial future can be daunting -- especially when you're responsible for employees. Anastasia provided an overview about the upcoming rules and responsibilities of the MERIT program affecting small businesses with 5 or more employees (part-time or full-time employees!).
Independent Representative Anastasia LaMarca with Primerica talked about deadlines and the ins and outs of this new state legislation as well as the affordable options small businesses have for retirement programs for their employees AND the basics of investing: what is an IRA? What is a mutual fund? And how does compounding interest affect your investments?
For more information, reach out to Anastasia directly at ANASTASIA.LAMARCA [at] primerica.com.
Habitat for Humanity & ReStore with Debbie Atwood of Habitat for Humanity
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Lunch provided by Ali Waks Adams of Balaboosta
The second of Union + Co’s Non-Profit Series Lunch and Learns focused on local 501(c)3 organizations. Debbie is the Donor & Volunteer Engagement Specialist for Habitat for Humanity 7 Rivers Maine, now headquartered in Bath. Debbie gave us information about Habitat’s history, how their local affiliate was formed, and an update on some of their exciting programs. Resources linked below.
RESOURCES FROM THE EVENT
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Growing Pains? Labor law getting you down? It is hard enough to run a business and then you add employees! Amy Dietrich, Attorney and shareholder with the firm Skelton, Taintor & Abbott gave an excellent overview of the ins and outs of hiring employees and contractors. Amy is an expert in employment and labor law issues and her discussion was important for folks whether they are hiring their first or 10th employee.
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ReVision Energy's Solar Designer Chris Jones provided an overview of all things solar + storage! Chris will discuss how grid-tied solar works, the all-electric household model (including heat pumps, EV charging, and Battery Storage), and explain how ReVision designs and prices systems.
The cost of solar panels has dropped 75% in the past 10 years, and there's still a 30% Federal Tax Credit for solar. Explore solar energy and bring your ideas & questions to this interactive discussion about all things solar.
Solar Energy 101 with Revision Energy
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Tara Kelly, Maine Preservation
Rod Melanson, Director of Sustainability for the City of Bath
Revision Energy
What if it wasn't enough that we were Maine's coolest City with a historic downtown? What if we were Maine's coolest city with a historic downtown that was also producing enough solar energy to power our downtown? What if Bath led the region or the country in showcasing best practices on integrating historic preservation & solar energy production?
The panelists discussed opportunities and obstacles that exist between preserving our past and making meaningful strides toward the future.
Solar Energy & Historic Preservation
Bath Area Non-Profit Update
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Jamie Dorr, Midcoast Youth Center
Alicia Romac, Sagadahoc Preservation Inc.
Michael Walton, Rotary
Jim Parmentier, Maine’s First Ship
The first event in a three-part series as we explore how non-profits play a critical role in the economic and community development of our region. Leadership from Rotary, Maine's First Ship, Sagadahoc Preservation, and Midcoast Youth Center gave a brief update and shared with us how their organizations play an important role in strengthening our community.
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with Marc Meyers, City Manager, Jenn Curtis, Director of Planning, and Emily Ruger, Director of Community and Economic and Development
Please join us for a City of Bath update, discussion, and Q&A. Selected City Staff will provide a brief update on projects and initiatives, and answer your questions on all things related to where we live, work, and play. Come join us for this update and learn how you can be a part of and engage in the process of shaping and forming the community we want for our future.
City of Bath Update
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with Jon Fitzgerald, Esq., General Counsel at Bath Iron Works
Join Union + Co for our next in-person Lunch + Learn at our new 31 Centre Street location on Thursday, August 31st at 12:00pm. Bring your lunch and get ready for an update on all things shipbuilding from Bath native and proud third-generation Bath Iron Works professional, Jon Fitzgerald, Esq.
Jon will give a brief update and overview of things to come and answer your questions as they relate to the past, the present, and the future of shipbuilding in Bath.
Bath Iron Works Update
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with expert speaker, Alex Giedt, Principal at Alex Giedt Consulting and Analytics Advisor at Here Be Dragons.
Advertising has changed a lot in the last few years and continues to evolve. It is quite easy to get a campaign up and running, it is another to evaluate the performance of the campaign. Did it work? How do you know? Alex provided a look on how to build dashboards inside of Google Data Studio.
Alex is an online & offline marketing expert. More about Alex here and here.
Metrics that Matter
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with Francis Eberle, Ph.D., Leadership and Organizational Advisor, of Price Associates
Are the people you work with driving you crazy? Are you feeling a bit less productive, but don't know why? Does it feel like everything is in need of a "tune up?" Throughout the "March Madness of Human Productivity" we explored in a three-part series topics such as Work-Related Stress, Emotions in the Workplace, and Dynamic Communication.
Local expert, Francis Eberle, Ph.D., Leadership and Organizational Advisor, of Price Associates, a local author and leadership coach led us through a discussion and conversations with evaluative and assessment components to help us better understand the issues to get back on track!
•Stressed Out? What It Is, and What You Can Do About It.
• Emotions, Emotions and Emotions. Their Place in the Workplace.
• Improve Your Ability to Connect with Others at Work and Home with Dynamic Communications
March Madness of Human Productivity
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with 2022 Bath City Councilors and Marc Myers, Bath City Manager
2022 will prove to be an exciting one for the City of Bath. A new City Manager. New Economic and Community Development Director. New and returning City Council Members. Leadership is coming together to strategize and plan for the issues and opportunities the City will face in the upcoming year.
2022 City Leaders Update
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with Maya Rook, Historian and founder of Illusory Time
Every year Americans gather around a feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce on the fourth Thursday of November. But how did these "traditional" foods end up on the table? Are they reflective of the supposed First Thanksgiving of 1621? And when did dishes like candied yams, green bean casserole, and ambrosia enter the scene?
Maya led an exploration of the culinary origins of Thanksgiving and discover the history of the most popular dishes of this food-centered holiday. Participants received historic and modern recipes to try out at home.
Maya Rook of Illusory Time is a historian, educator, and yoga instructor residing in Mid-Coast Maine. Through events designed for the general public, Maya utilizes a unique approach to history that blends critical insight with humor and empathy. She breathes new life into the past while making history accessible, relevant, and fun.
The Culinary Origins of Thanksgiving
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with Raynor Large, Small Business Advisor at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI)
Raynor Large, Small Business Advisor with Coastal Enterprises, spoke to a group of 15 small business professionals and future small business owners in downtown Bath. Formerly the Center Director, Small Business Advisor at Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Raynor has worked with small businesses across the state to help them become stronger and more resilient. A fun and informative event!
Small Business Roundtable
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with Rebecca Malburne, Bath Parks & Rec Summer Camp Director and
Caroline Kurrus, Development Director, Bath Area Family YMCA | Landing YMCA
We heard from program directors from our own Bath Parks and Recreation and Bath Area Family YMCA who shared what has stayed the same, what's changed, and how to get everyone involved in recreating this summer. There was be a brief overview of summer programming.
Summer with Bath Parks & Rec and Bath YMCA
Maine’s First Ship
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with Maine’s First Ship Crew and Volunteers
The first-in-a-while in-person event allowed 12 attendees to learn about Maine's First Ship. Burning questions from the audience were answered by a hearty and salty group of volunteers committed to bringing excitement, energy, and education about Maine's First Ship - The Virginia, to our downtown waterfront.
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with Patrick Manuel, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools RSU 1
Patrick Manuel, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools RSU 1, as he gave an update on the new, state-of-the-art high school facility and answered questions related to the timing of the transition, programming, and campus facility. Find a video recording of the event linked here.
Go Shipbuilders!
New High School
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with Marc Meyers, Assistant City Manager and Director of Economic Development, and Sally Johnstone, Board President of Main Street Bath and City of Bath Economic Development Chair
Marc and Sally gave an update on economic and community development initiatives, summer programming, downtown initiatives, and all things related to our community.
Bath’s Economic & Community Development
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with Alice MacDonald, AmSAT Certified Alexander Technique Teacher
Take a midday break and join Alice MacDonald for an Embodying Mindfulness session. We looked at ways to integrate mindful moments into daily life that allow you to connect to an easier balance, a sense of flow, and your body-mind relationship. Follow Alice on Instagram here - @alicealicealicemac.
Embodying Mindfulness
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with Hillary Pride, RDN, LD, NASM-CPT
Are you leading an active lifestyle but not sure if your nutrition is up to speed? Hannaford Registered Dietitian Hillary Pride spoke in this virtual lunch and learn about foods that fuel. This class covered what, when and how to choose foods to support active living. Check out a few recipes (hydration tea and energy bites) shared following the event here.
Follow Hillary on Instagram here - @eatswithpride.
Eating for an Active Lifestyle
Downtown Retail Marketing
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Want to grow your business? Want to learn more about how to effectively deliver your brand as a cohesive message to your customers? Want to increase foot traffic and online sales while increasing brand loyalty?
Bath's own Anita Demetropoulos (former owner of Island Treasure Toys) spoke about this and more. She lead a discussion on all things marketing - including Window Displays, Events, Loyalty Programs, Markdowns/Sales, Social Media and how to combine all of it into one seamless process.
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with Rep. Sean Paulhus - Bath City Counselor and State Representative
On Friday, January 24th, Bath City Counselor and State Representative Sean Paulhus joined us at Union + Co and provided an update on Maine’s 2020 Legislative session. The conversation and discussion included new and proposed Municipal and State legislation - including Maine's newly enacted Medical Marijuana Laws.
Municipal and State 2020 Legislative Update
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with Kendray Rodriguez - Freelance Content Writer and Editor
On Thursday, December 12th, Kendray Rodriguez - Freelance Content Writer and Editor spoke about Blogging for Business. Blogging is an incredibly powerful marketing tool that small businesses and solopreneurs can use to increase online visibility, improve website SEO, and convert traffic into leads. Topics covered included how blogging fits into a larger marketing strategy, how to write effective blog posts, ways to repurpose blog posts into other kinds of content, and tools to help with writing and research. For more information on Blogging for Business, please contact Kendray [hello (at) kendrayelizabeth (dot) com].
Blogging for Business
Accounting and Bookkeeping for Small Business Owners
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with Penne Fontanez and Nicklaus DeBlois
Penne Fontanez and Nicklaus DeBlois spoke about Accounting & Bookkeeping, just in time for tax season! Get a jump start on 2020 tips and tricks.
Place-Branding: How to Communicate the Unique Essence of Special Places
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with Better Yet Studio
On Thursday, October 31st at 12pm, Kate Howe from Better Yet Studio spoke about about Place Branding. Better Yet is a strategic branding and design studio. Optimists at heart, they believe there’s a meaningful way to connect with audiences on any subject. They work with civic, cultural, and mission-based organizations develop strategy and creative activations to increase engagement and impact for causes.
Economic Forecast/Outlook Using the "Yield Curve" - A Real Estate Perspective
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Maine Realty Advisors spread some market research, analyses, and forecasting in Bath during the Lunch + Learn event. MRA is working closely with Union + Co, to expand our great mission of encouraging local economic and community development. The presentation focused on the yield curve which is a hot topic in the financial media space. Frank Carr from MRA spoke about a basic method to discover, read, and interpret the yield curve data for individual analysis. Particular emphasis pointed out the recent "inversion" in the yield curve and what that forecasts for the economy on a macro basis. MRA discussed the yield curve’s application to the real estate space and how MRA guides various clients thorough phases of the economy.
Contact Frank Carr at Maine Realty Advisors to schedule your group to learn more about how this research applies to the real estate lifecycle.
How to Build a Parklet
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We discussed the essentials of building a good pop-up parklet, an overview of working with and permitting through your local government, and some obstacles and how to overcome them. Click on the button below to access the presentation.
Contact us for more information or if you need some help with your parklet!